Common names: safflower-like, alpine, maral root, maral grass.
Botanical characteristic. Compositae family. Perennial herbaceous plant, 50-180 cm high. Rhizome shortened, with a specific smell, horizontal, dark brown in color, branching with numerous cord-like roots. Stems are hollow, erect, unbranched, slightly cobweb-pubescent. The leaves are large, pinnate. The lower leaves are large, 12-40 cm long and 5-25 cm wide, petiolate. Up the stem, the leaves decrease in volume and become sessile. The flowers are purple-pink, bisexual, five-membered. Blossoms in July-August, fruits ripen in September-October (Fig. 29).
Spreading. Levzeya is an alpine plant of Southern Siberia, growing in the subalpine zone and the upper part of the mountain forest belt at an altitude of 1700 – 2000 m above sea level (Altai, Kuznetsk Alatau, Western and Eastern Sayans, Dzhungarsky Alatau, Khamar-Daban). In subalpine meadows it forms continuous thickets, in alpine meadows it occurs in smaller quantities. In the forest belt, it grows in fir-cedar forests, near mountain streams. Introduced into culture and cultivated in the Novosibirsk, Moscow and Leningrad regions.
Medicinal raw materials. Harvest rhizomes with roots in August – September, after seed ripening. At the same time, young plants and some of the adults must be left, which ensures the restoration of the leuzea and its reproduction. Rhizomes with roots are dug up with shovels, picks, the aerial part is cut off at the base and cleaned of soil and impurities. Then they are thoroughly and quickly washed in water, aired in the open air and dried in the sun, spreading out in a thin layer (no more than 10-15 cm), with frequent stirring for several days. Drying can be carried out in dryers or warm, well-ventilated areas. Before drying, the largest rhizomes are cut into several parts.
Chemical composition. Inulin, calcium oxalate crystals, phosphoric acid salts, carotene, within 0.1% of ascorbic acid, vitamin A, gums, resins, essential oil and within 5% of tannins were found in the thickness of the bark, in the roots and rhizomes of the plant.
Pharmachologic effect. It has been experimentally proven that Leuzea products have low toxicity, have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and are antagonists of sleeping pills. In animals, they moderately increase blood pressure, dilate peripheral vessels, increase blood flow velocity and increase myocardial contractility, and also increase the performance of tired skeletal muscles of animals. In this case, there is a decrease in glycogen and an increase in the content of lactic acid in the skeletal muscles of animals (Saratikov). Leuzea has adaptogenic properties, and its extract at a dose of 0.1 ml per 25 g of body weight of intact animals reduces the level of glycogen and increases the amount of lactic acid in skeletal muscles, without changing the amount of glycogen in the liver, the content of ATP and creatine phosphate.
Application. In veterinary practice, Leuzei tincture at 70% alcohol and a liquid extract are used as a stimulant for functional disorders of the nervous system, depression of the central nervous system, muscle fatigue, and weakening of the functions of various organs. Leuzei extract is added to tonic drinks, for example, in Sayany. Doses of tincture and extract inside: 10-15 drops for dogs, 3-5 drops for cats, 5-10 drops for foxes 2-3 times every day. The treatment period is 2 – 3 weeks.
Liquid extract of leuzy is prepared in a ratio of 1:1 in 70% ethanol. It is a reddish-brown liquid with a bitter taste that forms a cloudy solution with water. Produced in bottles of 40 ml. Store in a cool, dark place.
dog
Rp.: T-rae Leuzeae carthamoides 30.0
DS 10-15 drops 2-3 times daily before feeding.
Rep.: Extr. Leuzeae carthamoides fluidi 20.0
DS 5-10 drops 2-3 times daily before feeding.